Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation
Preservation Matters
Samantha Bosshart, Executive Director
September 13, 2012
Historic Plaque Program: The History of Your House Matters
Have you ever wondered about the history of your house? When it was built? Who owned it? What happened to the people who lived there?
The Historic Plaque Program of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation offers an easy and relatively inexpensive way to get answers to these and other questions you may have about your home. It begins with one of our trained researchers thoroughly investigating the ownership of your home and ends with you receiving a detailed written history and a bronze plaque with the historic name of your house and date of construction for display on your house.
You probably have seen these plaques as you walk or drive through many of Saratoga Springs’ historic neighborhoods. Hundreds of buildings in Saratoga Springs now have them, educating residents and visitors alike about the history of our City. There are many more houses in the city that are at least 50 years old or older that have interesting histories deserving of a historic plaque.
“The amount of detail and enthusiasm in the reports is outstanding,” says Jay Baldwin, owner of Abel-Riley-Ramsdill Farm at 255 Kaydeross Avenue built circa 1795, one of the oldest homes in the city. “I had a historic house history done by a professional in another state, and it was about half as good as my SSPF house report and cost at least five times more– with no plaque included.”
Tamie Ehinger, owner of 688 North Broadway, was similarly amazed by the amount of information she found in the House History we produced for her home. A highlight, she said, “was seeing our own names at the bottom of a very long list of owners dating back to the late 1800’s. It put into perspective for us the importance of our job as its current caretakers.”
“The plaque is such a wonderful addition to the facade of our home,” she added. “Until we hung it in its proper place, our restoration work on the house really didn’t feel complete.”
Justin Hogan owner of 31 Warren Street built about 1871 says “I don’t live in one of the grand homes on Union Avenue, so I was surprised by the amount of interesting information there was about my home and to learn how it contributes to the history of Saratoga.
Since 2008, the Foundation’s most prolific researcher has been Joan Walter, who has produced nearly 100 house histories and is likely to be working on two or three at any given time. An attorney with a master’s degree in architecture, she has the ideal background for this kind of work.
There are two types of information that Joan and our other researchers search for when doing a house history: architectural facts, such as date of construction, name of architect or builder, construction materials, and physical changes over time, as well as historical facts, such as information about the original owner and other residents, or interesting events associated with the building or area. The cost is $300 for Foundation members and $325 for non-members. It is a real bargain, considering that a typical history takes 30 or more hours to complete.
The first step is a deed search dating back to the 1800s. More often than not, that will lead to the names of Gideon Putnam, John Clark, Henry Walton, Seymour Ainsworth, Reuben Hyde Walworth and other major land owners from the early to mid-1800s.
Knowing who owned the property does not necessarily tell you who lived there. To learn that information Joan consults City Directories, dating back to 1868, in the Saratoga Room at the Saratoga Springs Public Library where the staff is always helpful. Since the Directories did not include the names of wives until 1924 and did not include the names of children or other relatives, she consults U.S. and New York State census records from 1855 through 1920, cemetery records for birth and death dates, and obituaries for additional biographical information. Joan also consults with the City Historian, Mary Ann Fitzgerald, and reviews relevant tax records and early maps of Saratoga Springs, which are especially helpful for determining the date of construction.
Each House History contains attachments including the deed chain, details of maps of Saratoga Springs showing the house and land, excerpts from the City Directories, and other relevant information.
“I just enjoy finding out about these houses,” says Joan Walter. “Whether it is a small cottage on White Street or a grand mansion on North Broadway, each one is a detective story and each one is unique.”
If you are interested in learning more about your house, you can order a House History and plaque online at www.saratogapreservation.org or call (518) 587-5030. A $125 deposit is required for the written house history with the remaining balance is due prior to ordering the bronze plaque.
Founded in 1977, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is a private, not-for-profit organization that promotes preservation and enhancement of the architectural, cultural and landscaped heritage of Saratoga Springs.
(518) 587-5030
info@saratogapreservation.org
